Glucose-induced inactivation/degradation-resistant transporter gene and use thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a glucose-induced inactivation/degradation-resistant transporter gene and use thereof, and more particularly, to a brewing yeast having excellent assimilation of oligosaccharides (maltose, maltotriose, etc.), an alcoholic beverage prepared using the yeast, a method of producing the alcoholic beverage, etc. More specifically, the present invention relates to a glucose-induced inactivation/degradation-resistant transporter including Mal21p, mutant Mal31p, mutant Mal61p, mutant Mtt1p, mutant Agt1p, etc., a gene encoding the transporter, a method of producing an alcoholic beverage using thereof, and so on.

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/442,143, which is the National Stage Application of International Application PCT/JP2008/066237, filed Sep. 9, 2008. The entire disclosures of application Ser. No. 12/442,143 and PCT/JP2008/066237 are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a glucose-induced inactivation/degradation transporter gene and use thereof, and more particularly, to a brewing yeast having excellent assimilation of oligosaccharides (maltose, maltotriose, etc.), an alcoholic beverage prepared using the yeast, a method of producing the alcoholic beverage, said so on.

BACKGROUND ART

In the production of malt fermented beverages such as beer, happoshu (low-malt beer), whisky, etc., the major three sugars contained in a wort prepared by mashing a malt, etc. are glucose, maltose and maltotriose. The ratio of these malt-derived sugars can be somewhat varied depending on the mashing process and may be approximately 1:5:1, since the ratio does not change significantly when enzyme preparations, glycosylated starch, etc., are not added. Among them, glucose is a monosaccharide and preferentially assimilated as a sugar most favored by yeast.

Yeast has numerous genes suppressed in the presence of glucose during the transcription process. This suppressing control mechanism is called glucose repression. Several transporters required for uptake of maltose or maltotriose into yeast all undergo this repression. It is known that some of these gene products which undergo such glucose repression are inactivated in the presence of glucose even after translation. α-Glucoside transporters are also within this type and known to be rapidly degraded in the presence of glucose. The first step of assimilation of maltose or maltotriose is its uptake into yeast cells by these transporters and when transporters are degraded, assimilation of these sugars is discontinued. This is the reason why the expression of transporter is called a rate-determining step for assimilation.

-   Non-Patent Literature 1: Brondijk, T. H., van der Rest, M. E.,     Pluim, D., de Vries, Y. de., Stingl, K., Poolman, B., and     Konings, W. N. (1998) J. Biol. Chem., 273 (25), 15352-15357 -   Non-Patent Literature 2: Medintz, I., Wang, X., Hradek, T., and     Michels, C. A. (2000) Biochemistry, 39 (15), 4518-4526 -   Non-Patent Literature 3: Gadura, N., Michels, C. A (2006) Curr.     Genet., 50 (2), 101-114

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Under such situations, it has been desired to provide a yeast bearing an oligosaccharide transporter less susceptible to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation and having an improved assimilation of oligosaccharides such as maltose, etc.

The present inventors have made extensive efforts to solve the foregoing problems. As a result, the inventors have developed a novel method of screening a transporter, which is less susceptible to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation thereinafter referred to as “glucose-induced inactivation/degradation-resistant transporter”) or a yeast bearing the transporter, and based on the screening method, found the glucose-induced inactivation/degradation-resistant transporter or a yeast bearing the same. The present invention has thus been accomplished.

That is, the present invention relates to a gene encoding the glucose-induced inactivation/degradation-resistant transporter, a transporter protein encoded by the gene, a transformed yeast in which expression of the gene is regulated, a method of producing an alcoholic beverage which comprises using the yeast in which expression of the gene is regulated, etc. More specifically, the present invention provides the polynucleotides given below, vectors comprising the polynucleotides, transformed yeasts in which the vectors are introduced, and a method of producing alcoholic beverages using these transformed yeasts, etc.

(1) A polynucleotide encoding a transporter protein comprising a mutated sequence with a mutation in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 8 or 10, and having a resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation, wherein:

the mutation of deletion, substitution, insertion and/or addition of 1 to 5 amino acids is introduced into the sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 (QGKKSDFDLSHLEY) of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6, into the sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 (QGKKSDFDLSHHEY) of SEQ ID NO: 8, or into the sequence of amino acids 44 to 57 (GKKDSAFELDHLEF) of SEQ ID NO: 10.

(2) The polynucleotide according to (1), encoding a transporter comprising a mutated sequence with a further mutation of deletion, substitution, insertion and/or addition of 1 to 15 amino acids introduced into as sequence fragment other than the sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 or 44 to 57.

(3) The polynucleotide according to (1) or (2), wherein a mutation of deletion, substitution, insertion and/or addition of 1 to 5 amino acids is introduced into the sequence of amino acids 46 to 51 (DLSHLE) of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6, into the sequence of amino acids 46 to 51 (DLSHHE) of SEQ ID NO: 8, or into the sequence of amino acids 51 to 56 (ELDHLE) of SEQ ID NO: 10.

(4) A polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25, 27 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47 or 49.

(5) A polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29, 33, 35, 39, 41, 43 or 47.

(6) A polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 or 50.

(7) A polynucleotide comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30, 34, 36, 40, 42, 44 or 48.

(8) The polynucleotide according to any one of (1) to (7), which is a DNA.

(9) A protein encoded by the polynucleotide according to any one of (1) to (8).

(10) A vector comprising the polynucleotide according to any one of (1) to (8).

(11) A transformed yeast introduced with the vector according to (10).

(12) The yeast for brewing according to (11), wherein oligosaccharide assimilation capability is improved by introducing the vector according to (10).

(13) The yeast for brewing according to (12), wherein oligosaccharide assimilation capability is improved by increasing the expression level of the protein according to (9).

(14) A method of producing a beverage which comprises using the yeast according to any one of (11) to (13).

(15) The method of producing a beverage according to (14), wherein the beverage to be brewed is a malt beverage.

(16) The method of producing a beverage according to (14), wherein the beverage to be brewed is wine.

(17) A beverage produced by the method according to any one of (14) to (16).

(18) A method of obtaining a yeast bearing a transporter having a resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation, which comprises:

(1) a step of culturing a plurality of test yeasts in an oligosaccharide medium containing 2-deoxyglucose and selecting a yeast bearing the transporter protein less susceptible to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation using the growth level of each yeast as an indicator;

(2) a step of identifying the amino acid residues or amino acid sequence contributing to less susceptibility to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation by comparing the amino acid sequence of a transporter protein contained in the yeast selected in the step (1) with the amino acid sequence of a transporter protein which level of glucose-induced inactivation or degradation is known;

(3) a step of designing a polynucleotide encoding a transporter protein having a resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation based on the amino acid sequence information obtained in the step (2); and,

(4) introducing the polynucleotide designed in the step (3) into a yeast, culturing the yeast in an oligosaccharide medium and measuring the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation of the transporter protein contained in the yeast, the oligosaccharide assimilation capability, growth rate and/or fermentation rate in a wort of the yeast.

(18a) The method according to (18), wherein a plurality of test yeasts in the step (1) above are naturally occurring yeasts or yeasts mutated from naturally occurring yeasts.

(18b) The method according to (18), wherein the yeast into which the polynucleotide designed in the step (3) is introduced in the step (4) includes mutant Mal31p protein wherein a site-directed mutation is introduced into the amino acid sequence of Mal31p protein, mutant Mal61 p protein wherein a site-directed mutation is introduced into the amino acid sequence of Mal61p protein, mutant Mtt1p protein wherein a site-directed mutation is introduced into the amino acid sequence of Mtt1p protein or mutant Agt1p protein wherein a site-directed mutation is introduced into the amino acid sequence of Agt1p protein.

The use of the yeast in accordance with the present invention provides the advantage that the fermentation rate of moromi mash containing oligosaccharides such as maltose, maltotriose, etc. can be increased. The transporter gene in accordance with the present invention can be introduced into any of brewing yeasts or laboratory yeasts. It is effective especially in the case where oligosaccharides (maltose, maltotriose, turanose, trehalose, etc.) which can be taken up by the transporter gene in accordance with the present invention are contained in a crude fermentation liquor abundant in monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the differences in growth between laboratory yeasts in the presence of 2-deoxyglucose.

FIG. 2 shows the nucleotide sequence of MAL21 gene (SEQ ID NO: 51).

FIG. 3 shows the amino acid sequence of Mal21p gene (SEQ ID NO: 2).

FIG. 4 shows the degradation rates of Mal21p, Mal31p and Mal61p in the presence of glucose.

FIG. 5 shows the degradation rate of mutant Mal31p in the presence of glucose.

FIG. 6 shows the alignment of Mal21/Mal31/Mal61/Mtt1/Agt1. Figure discloses residues 1-392 of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, and 6, residues 1-393 of SEQ ID NO: 8, and residues 1-398 of SEQ ID NO: 10, respectively, in order of appearance.

FIG. 7 shows the alignment of Mal21/Mal31/Mal61/Mtt1/Agt1 (continued from FIG. 6). Figure discloses residues 393-614 of SEQ ID NOS: 2, 4, and 6, residues 394-615 of SEQ ID NO: 8, and residues 399-616 of SEQ ID NO: 10, respectively, in order of appearance.

FIG. 8 shows the degradation rate of mutant Agt1p in the presence of glucose.

FIG. 9 shows the differences in growth among strains bearing mutant MAL61 gene in the presence of 2-deoxyglucose (identification of amino acid residues which greatly affect the degradation rate).

FIG. 10 shows the degradation rate of mutant Mal61p in the presence of glucose (identification of amino acid residues which greatly affect the degradation rate).

FIG. 11 shows the differences in growth among strains bearing native MTT1 and mutant MTT1 gene in the presence of 2-deoxyglucose.

FIG. 12 shows the growth of MAL21 gene-highly expressed laboratory strains in a maltose medium.

FIG. 13 shows the maltose fermentation rates of MAL21 gene-highly expressed bottom-fermenting beer yeast strains in happoshu (low-malt beer) or in happoshu (glucose-rich) wort.

FIG. 14 shows the maltose fermentation rates in the wont of top-fermenting, beer yeasts in which the transporter less susceptible to glucose-induced degradation is highly expressed.

FIG. 15 shows the construction of plasmid pJHXSB.

FIG. 16 shows the construction of plasmid pJHIXSB.

FIG. 17 shows the construction of plasmid pYCGPY.

FIG. 18 shows the construction of plasmid pUP3GLP.

FIG. 19 shows the construction of plasmid pYCp49H.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Based on the idea that if glucose-induced inactivation or degradation of a post-translational transporter can be regulated, maltose and maltotriose can be more efficiently assimilated into a yeast in the presence of glucose, the present inventors have made extensive efforts and as a result, found Mal21p from the natural world, which is an α-glucoside transporter less susceptible to degradation, and confirmed that the degradation rate of Mal21p is extremely slow when compared to other transporters.

Furthermore, the inventors have introduced a mutation into the transporter gene using UV and succeeded in screening of the transporter having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation in a unique way. More specifically, the inventors have imparted mutation to Mal31p and Agt1p, which are α-glucoside transporters susceptible to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation thereby to obtain several transporters less susceptible to the degradation. The inventors have also identified the amino acid residues contributing to less susceptibility to the degradation from the amino acid sequences of these mutant transporters and the amino acid sequence of Mal21p. As a result, the inventors have succeeded in modifying Mtt1p, which is a novel α-glucoside transporter possessed by bottom-fermenting beer yeasts, into a transporter less susceptible to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation, by replacing amino acids based on the information. The inventors have also succeeded in increasing the growth rate actually in a maltose medium, by highly expressing the transporter less susceptible to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation, which has discovered or newly obtained. In addition, the assimilation rate of maltose could be increased in beer brewing. The present invention has thus been accomplished as a result of such an idea and research achievements.

The genes obtained in the present invention and their nucleotide sequences, the transporter proteins encoded by these genes or their amino acid sequences are given below.

-   [SEQ ID NO: 1] Nucleotide sequence of MAL21 -   [SEQ ID NO: 2] Amino acid sequence of Mal21p α-glucoside transporter -   [SEQ ID NO: 3] Nucleotide sequence of MAL31 -   [SEQ ID NO: 4] Amino acid sequence of Mal31p α-glucoside transporter -   [SEQ ID NO: 5] Nucleotide sequence of MAL61 -   [SEQ ID NO: 6] Amino acid sequence of Mal61α-glucoside transporter -   [SEQ ID NO: 7] Nucleotide sequence of MTT1 -   [SEQ ID NO: 8] Amino acid sequence of Mtt1p α-glucoside transporter -   [SEQ ID NO: 9] Nucleotide sequence of AGT1 -   [SEQ ID NO: 10] Amino acid sequence of Agt1p α-glucoside transporter -   [SEQ ID NO: 25] Nucleotide sequence of MAL61 [D46G] -   [SEQ ID NO: 26] Amino acid sequence of Mal61p[Gly46] -   [SEQ ID NO: 27] Nucleotide sequence of MAL61[L50H] -   [SEQ ID NO: 28] Amino acid sequence of Mal61p[His50] -   [SEQ ID NO: 29] Nucleotide sequence of MAL61[D46G,L50H] -   [SEQ ID NO: 30] Amino acid sequence of Mal61p[Gly46, His50] -   [SEQ ID NO: 31] Nucleotide sequence of AGT1[ES6K] -   [SEQ ID NO: 32] Amino acid sequence of Agt1p [Lys56] -   [SEQ ID NO: 33] Nucleotide sequence of AGT1[ES6G] -   [SEQ ID NO: 34] Amino acid sequence of Agt1p [Gly56] -   [SEQ ID NO: 35] Nucleotide sequence of MTT1[D46G] -   [SEQ ID NO: 36] Amino acid sequence of Mtt1p[Gly46] -   [SEQ ID NO: 37] Nucleotide sequence of MAL31[E51V] -   [SEQ ID NO: 38] Amino acid sequence of Mal31p[Val51] -   [SEQ ID NO: 39] Nucleotide sequence of MAL31[S48P] -   [SEQ ID NO: 40] Amino acid sequence of Mal31p[Pro48] -   [SEQ ID NO: 41] Nucleotide sequence of MAL31[H49P] -   [SEQ ID NO: 42] Amino acid sequence of Mal31p[Pro49] -   [SEQ ID NO: 43] Nucleotide sequence of MAL31[L50P] -   [SEQ ID NO: 44] Amino acid sequence of Mal31p[Pro50] -   [SEQ ID NO: 45] Nucleotide sequence of MAL31[E51K] -   [SEQ ID NO: 46] Amino acid sequence of Mal31p[Lys51] -   [SEQ ID NO: 47] Nucleotide sequence of MAL31[L50F,E51K] -   [SEQ ID NO: 48] Amino acid sequence of Mal31p[Phe50,Lys51] -   [SEQ ID NO: 49] Nucleotide sequence of MAL31[H49R] -   [SEQ ID NO: 50] Amino acid sequence of Mal31p[Arg49]

As used herein, the term “α-glucoside transporter” refers to a protein associated with α-glucoside transmembrane transport and such α-glucoside transporters include a maltose transporter, a maltotriose transporter, etc.

1. Polynucleotide of the Invention

First, the present invention provides the polynucleotide encoding a transporter protein comprising a mutated sequence with a mutation in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 8 or 10, and having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation, wherein the mutation of deletion, substitution, insertion and/or addition of 1 to 5 amino acids (preferably, 1 to 4, 1 to 3, 1 to 2, or 1) is introduced into the sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 (QGKKSDFDLSHLEY) of SEQ NO: 4 or 6, into the sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 (QGKKSDFDLSHHEY) of SEQ ID NO: 8, or into the sequence of amino acids 44 to 57 (GKKDSAFELDHLEF) of SEQ ID NO: 10 (specifically a DNA, hereinafter sometimes briefly referred to as “DNA”). The present invention also includes the transporter proteins described above comprising a mutated sequence wherein the mutation of deletion, substitution, insertion and/or addition of 1 to 15 amino acids (preferably, 1 to 14, 1 to 13, 1 to 12, 1 to 11, 1 to 10, 1 to 9, 1 to 8, 1 to 7, 1 to 6, 1 to 5, 1 to 4, 1 to 3, 1 to 2, or 1) is further introduced into sequence fragments other than the sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 or 44 to 57 in the amino acid sequences described above.

The protein preferred in the present invention also includes the transporter proteins described above, in which the mutation of deletion, substitution, insertion and/or addition of 1 to 5 amino acids (preferably, 1 to 4, 1 to 3, 1 to 2, or 1) is introduced into the sequence of amino acids 46 to 51 (DLSHLE) of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6, the sequence of amino acids 46 to 51 (DLSHHE) of SEQ ID NO: 8, or into the sequence of amino acids 51 to 56 (ELDHLE) of SEQ ID NO: 10. The transporter protein preferred in the present invention includes as protein consisting of the amino sequence shown by SEQ ID NO: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 or 50, more preferably a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO: 30, 34, 36, 400 42, 44 or 48.

The transporter protein of the present invention includes as transporter protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 or 50, in which, for example, 1 to 15, 1 to 10, 1 to 9, 1 to 8, 1 to 7, 1 to 6 (1 to several), 1 to 5, 1 to 4, 1 to 3, 1 to 2, or 1 amino acid is deleted, substituted, inserted and/or added in the amino acid sequence, and having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation. In general, a smaller number of the deletion, substitution, insertion and/or addition in the amino acid residues described above is more preferable.

Such proteins include transporter proteins having the amino acid sequence having an identity of at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, at least about 99.1%, at least about 99.2%, at least about 99.3%, at least about 99.4%, at least about 99.5%, at least about 99.6%, at least about 99.7%, at least about 99.8% and at least about 99.9%, with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 or 50, and having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation. In general, the numerical value of the identity described above is more preferable as the number is larger.

<Evaluation of the Resistance to Glucose-Induced Inactivation/Degradation>

According to the present invention, the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation can be evaluated, for example, by the following procedures. First, it is confirmed that a strain expressing each transporter protein is able to grow in a 0 to 2 mM 2-deoxyglucose-containing maltose, etc. minimum medium (6.7 g/L of yeast nitrogen base w/o amino acids, 20 g/L of maltose, etc.; also containing the required nutrients if the transformant is auxotrophic) or in a 0 to 8.0 mM 2-deoxyglucose-containing maltose-supplemented synthetic complete medium (SCM) (6.7 g/L of yeast nitrogen base w/o amino acids, 20 g/L of maltose, 20 mg/ml of adenine sulfate, 20 mg/ml of uracil, 20 mg/ml of L-tryptophan, 20 mg/ml of L-histidine hydrochloride, 20 mg/ml of L-arginine hydrochloride, 20 mg/ml of L-methionine, 30 mg/ml of L-tyrosine, 30 mg/ml of L-leucine, 30 mg/ml of L-isoleucine, 30 mg/ml of L-lysine hydrochloride, 50 mg/ml of L-phenylalanine, 100 mg/ml of L-glutamic acid, 100 mg/ml of L-aspartic acid, 150 mg/ml of L-valine, 200 mg/ml of L-threonine and 400 mg/ml of L-serine), to select the strain in which the transporter retains the maltose uptake activity in yeasts even where the signal of glucose-induced inactivation/degradation generates. Next, this strain is inoculated into YPD (10 g/L of yeast extract, 20 g/L of polypeptone and 20 g/L of glucose) followed by shaking the culture at 30° C. overnight. The culture broth is inoculated into a YPM medium (10 g/L of yeast extract, 20 g/L of polypeptone and 5 g/L of maltose) to reach OD660=1.0 followed by shaking the culture at 30° C. for 2.5 hours. The cells are then collected. 60 OD660 units of cells are weighed 30 ml of a medium for degradation rate measurement (1.7 g/L of yeast nitrogen base w/o amino acids and ammonia, 20 g/L of glucose and 25 μg/L cycloheximide) preincubated at 30° C., followed by incubation at 30° C. The cell suspension is monitored by means of 5 ml sampling for an appropriate time period (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 minutes or 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes), After the suspension is centrifuged immediately thereafter, the supernatant is discarded and the cells are frozen using an ethanol-dry ice. The transporter protein is detected from the frozen cells in a conventional manner and the intensity of the protein band is measured to determine the half life from its diminution rate. The transporter protein preferred in the present invention has the half life of 2 times or more, 3 times or more, 4 times or more, 5 times or more, 6 times or more or 8 times or more, than that of, e.g., Mal31p.

The present invention further encompasses polynucleotides comprising a polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide of the present invention including the polynucleotide encoding the transporter protein comprising a mutated sequence with a mutation in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 8 or 10, and having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation, wherein the mutation of deletion, substitution, insertion and/or addition of 1 to 5 amino acids (preferably, 1 to 4, 1 to 3, 1 to 2 or 1) is introduced into the sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 (QGKKSDFDLSHLEY) of SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6, into the sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 (QGKKSDFDLSHHEY) of SEQ ID NO: 8, or into the sequence of amino acids 44 to 57 (GKKDSAFELDHLEF) of SEQ ID NO: 10, or the like, and which encodes is a transporter protein having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation.

Preferred examples of the polynucleotide in the present invention are those polynucleotides as defined above, specifically the polynucleotide comprising the polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47 or 49, and more preferably the polynucleotide comprising the polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29, 33, 35, 39, 41, 43 or 47. In EXAMPLES later described, it has been demonstrated that the sequence of amino acids 46 to 51 in SEQ ID NO: 4, 6 or 8 is associated with the resistance, to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation of Mal21p, mutant Mal31p, mutant Mal61p and mutant Mtt1p, and the sequence of amino acids 51 to 56 in SEQ ID NO: 10 is associated with the resistance of Agt1. It is therefore desired to consider this sequence information when the mutation is introduced.

As used herein, the term “polynucleotide (DNA) which hybridizes under stringent conditions” refers to a DNA consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47 or 49, or a DNA obtained by the colony hybridization technique, the plaque hybridization technique, the Southern hybridization technique or the like, using as a probe all or a part of a DNA encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 or 50. For the hybridization, there may be used methods described in, for example, Molecular Cloning, 3rd Ed., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons 1987-1997, etc.

As used herein, the term “stringent conditions” may be any of low stringent conditions, medium stringent conditions and high stringent conditions. The term “low stringent conditions” refers to conditions of, e.g., 5×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS, 50% formamide and 32° C. The term “medium stringent conditions” refers to conditions of, e.g., 5×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS, 50% formamide and 42° C. The term “high stringent conditions” refers to conditions of, e.g., 5×SSC, 5× Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS, 50% formamide and 50° C. It can be expected under these conditions that DNAs having a higher homology can be efficiently obtained as the temperature becomes higher. However, there are several factors that might affect the stringency of hybridization to be considered and such factors include temperature, probe concentration, probe length, ionic strength, time, salt concentration, etc. Those skilled in the art can suitably choose these factors to achieve the same stringencies.

In the case of using commercially available kits for the hybridization, for example, Alkphos Direct Labeling Reagents (manufactured by Amersham Pharmacia) can be used. In this case, the hybridized DNA can be detected by incubating with a labeled probe overnight and washing the membrane with a primary wash buffer containing 0.1% (w/v) SDS at 55° C., according to the protocol attached to the kit.

Other DNAs that can be hybridized include DNAs having an identity of at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, at least about 99%, at least about 99.1%, at least about 99.2%, at least about 99.3%, at least about 99.4%, at least about 99.5%, at least about 99.6%, at least about 99.7%, at least about 99.8%, or at least about 99.9%, with the DNA encoding the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 or 50, as calculated by a homology search software such as FASTA, BLAST, etc. using default parameters.

The identity of amino acid sequences or nucleotide sequences can be determined using the algorithm BLAST by Karlin and Altschul (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 87: 2264-2268, 1990; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 90: 5873, 1993). Based on the algorithm BLAST, programs called BLASTN or BLASTX have been developed (Altschul S. F. et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215: 403, 1990). When a nucleotide sequence is analyzed using BLASTN, the parameters are set to, for example, score=100 and word length=12. When an amino acid sequence is analyzed using BLASTX, the parameters are set to, for example, score=50 and word length=3. When BLAST and Gapped BLAST programs are used, default parameters for each of the programs are employed.

2. Protein of the Invention

The present invention further provides the protein encoded by any one of the polynucleotides described above. Preferred examples of the proteins in the present invention are transporter proteins comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 8 or 10, in which 1 to 15 amino acids (preferably, 1 to 14, 1 to 13, 1 to 12, 1 to 11, 1 to 10, 1 to 9, Ito 8, 1 to 7, I to 6, 1 to 5, 1 to 4, 1 to 3, 1 to 2, or 1) are deleted, substituted, inserted and/or added in the amino acid sequence, and having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation.

Such proteins include transporter proteins comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 8 or 10, in which the aforesaid number of amino acid residues are deleted, substituted, inserted and/or added in the amino acid sequence, and having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation.

Such transporter proteins preferably include proteins consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 or 50, and more preferably, proteins consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30, 34, 36, 40, 42, 44 or 48. Such proteins include transporter proteins having the amino acid sequence which has the homology described above to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 or 50, and having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation. These proteins can be obtained by site-directed mutagenesis described in Molecular Cloning, 3rd Ed., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Nuc. Acids. Res., 10, 6487 (1982), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 79, 6409 (1982), Gene, 34, 315 (1985), Nuc. Acids. Res., 13, 4431 (1985), Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 82, 488 (1985), etc.

The deletion, substitution, insertion and/or addition of 1 to 15 amino acid residues (preferably, 1 to 14, 1 to 13, 1 to 12, 1 to 11, 1 to 10, 1 to 9, 1 to 8, 1 to 7, 1 to 6, 1 to 5, 1 to 4, 1 to 3, 1 to 2, or 1) in the amino acid sequence of the protein of the present invention is intended to mean that 1 to 15 amino acid residues (preferably, 1 to 14, 1 to 13, 1 to 12, 1 to 11, 1 to 10, 1 to 9, 1 to 8, 1 to 7, 1 to 6, 1 to 5, 1 to 4, 1 to 3, 1 to 2, or 1) are deleted, substituted, inserted and/or added at optional positions of the 1 to 15 amino acid sequence in the same sequence, in which two or more deletions, substitutions, insertions and/or additions may also take place simultaneously.

Examples of the amino acid residues which are mutually substitutable are given below. The amino acid residues in the same group are mutually substitutable. Group A: leucine, isoleucine, norleucine, valine, norvaline, alanine, 2-aminobutanoic acid, methionine, o-methylserine, t-butylglycine, t-butylalanine and cyclohexylalanine; Group B: aspartic acid, glutamic acid, isoaspartic acid, isoglutamic acid, 2-aminoadipic acid and 2-aminosuberic acid; Group C: asparagine and glutamine; Group D: lysine, arginine, ornithine, 2,4-diaminobutanoic acid and 2,3-diaminopropionic acid; Group E: proline, 3-hydroxyproline and 4-hydroxyproline; Group F: serine, threonine and homoserine; and Group G: phenylalanine and tyrosine.

The protein of the present invention can also be produced by chemical synthesis methods such as the Fmoc method (fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl method), the tBoc method (t-butyloxycarbonyl method) or the like. In addition, peptide synthesizers available from, for example, Advanced ChemTech, Perkin-Elmer, Pharmacia, Protein Technology Instrument, Synthecell-Vega, PerSeptive, Shimadzu Corp. can also be used for chemical synthesis.

3. Vector of the Invention and Yeast Transformed with the Vector

Next, the present invention provides a vector comprising the polynucleotide described above. The vector of the present invention comprises any of the polynucleotides (DNAs) described above. Generally, the vector of the present invention is constructed to contain an expression cassette comprising as components (x) a promoter that is transcribable in a yeast cell; (y) a polynucleotide (DNA) in any of those described above that is linked to the promoter in either sense or antisense direction and (z) a signal that functions in a yeast in terms of transcription termination and polyadenylation of RNA molecule. In expressing the aforesaid protein of the present invention at a high level, it is preferred to introduce these polynucleotides in a sense direction to the promoter in order to promote the expression of the polynucleotide (DNA) described herein.

As the vector used to introduce the genes to yeasts, any of multicopy (YEp type), single-copy (YCp type) and chromosomal integration (YIp type) plasmids can be utilized. For example, YEp24 (J. R. Broach et al., Experimental Manipulation of Gene Expression, Academic Press, New York, 83, 1983) is known as the YEp type vector; YCp50 (M. D. Rose et al., gene, 60, 237, 1987) is known as the YCp type vector; and YIp5 (K. Struhl, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USP, 76, 1035, 1979) is known as the YIp type vector, all of which are readily available. It is also possible to use plasmids such as chromosomal integration type pUP3GLP (Omura, F. et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 194, 207, 2001) (FIG. 18) or pJHIXSB (FIG. 16), single-copy replicating type pYCGPY (Kodama, Y. et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 67, 3455, 2001) (FIG. 17) or pJHXSB (FIG. 15), etc.

Promoters/terminators for regulating gene expression in yeasts may be used in any optional combination as far as they function in brewing yeasts and are independent from concentrations of the components such as sugar or amino acids in a moromi mash. For example, a promoter for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (TDH3), a promoter for phosphoglycerate kinase gene (PGK1), etc. can be used. These genes are already cloned and described in, e.g., M. F. Tuite, et al., EMBO J., 1, 603 (1982), and easily available by known methods. The promoters used in the expression vector can be effectively replaced to those having a suitable transcription activity depending on the sugar components or sugar concentrations of moromi mash or the combination of a plurality of transporters, etc.

As selection markers for transformation, auxotrophic markers cannot be used for brewer's yeasts; therefore, a geneticin resistance gene (G418r), a copper resistance gene (CUP1) (Marin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 81, 337 1984), a cerulenin resistance gene (fas2m, PDR4) (Junji Inokoshi, et al., Biochemistry, 64, 660, 1992; and Hussain et al., Gene, 101, 149, 1991; respectively) can be used as such markers. The vector constructed as described above is introduced into a host yeast. Examples of the host yeast include any yeast which can be used for brewing, for example, brewing yeasts for beer, wine, sake, etc. Specifically, yeasts belonging to the genus Saccharomyces can be used. According to the present invention, a lager beer yeast, for example, Saccharomyces pastorianus W34/70, etc., Saccharomyces carlsbergensis NCYC453, NCYC456, etc., Saccharomyces cerevisiae NBRC1951, NBRC1952, NBRC1953, NBRC1954, etc., may be used. In addition, whisky yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC90, etc., wine yeasts such as wine yeast Nos. 1, 3, 4, etc. from the Brewing Society of Japan, and sake yeasts such as sake yeast Nos. 7, 9, etc. from the Brewing Society of Japan can also be used but there is no limitation thereto. In the present invention, preferably used are brewing yeasts, e.g., Saccharomyces pastorianus.

Chromosomal DNAs used to prepare each transporter gene described herein are not limited to strains such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 20598, ATCC 96955, etc., but may be prepared from any yeast so long as it is a yeast bearing such genes and belonging to Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

For yeast transformation, there may be used publicly known methods generally used. The transformation can be performed by, for example, the electroporation method (Meth. Enzym., 194, 182 (1990)), the spheroplast method (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 75, 1929 (1978)), the lithium acetate method (J. Bacteriology, 153, 163 (1983)), and methods described in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 75, 1929 (1978), Methods in Yeast Genetics, 2000 Edition: A Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Course Manual, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

The transformants can be selected on a uracil-free agar medium by incorporating a gene complementing a host auxotrophy such as URA3 into an expression plasmid. Alternatively, by incorporating a drug resistance gene, for example, cycloheximide drug resistance gene YAP1 or geneticin resistance gene G418R into the expression plasmid, the transformants can be selected on an agar medium containing cycloheximide (e.g., 0.3 μg/ml) or geneticin (e.g., 300 μg/ml).

More specifically, a host yeast is cultured to an OD600 value of 1 to 6 in a standard yeast nutrition medium (e.g., YEPD medium: Genetic Engineering, Vol. 1, Plenum Press, New York, 117 (1979), etc.). This culture yeast is collected by centrifugation, washed and pre-treated with an alkali metal ion, preferably a lithium ion, at a concentration of approximately 1 to 2 M. After the cells are allowed to stand at about 30° C. for about 60 minutes, it is allowed to stand with a DNA to be introduced (about 1 to 20 μg) at about 30° C. for about further 60 minutes. Polyethylene glycol, preferably polyethylene glycol of about 4,000 daltons, is added to reach the final concentration of about 20% to 50%. After allowing to stand at about 30° C. for about 30 minutes, the cells are heated at about 42° C. for about 5 minutes. Preferably, this cell suspension is washed with a standard yeast nutrition medium, inoculated into a predetermined amount of fresh standard yeast nutrition medium and allowed to stand at about 30° C. for about 60 minutes. Thereafter, it is spreaded onto a standard agar medium supplemented with an antibiotic or the like used as a selection marker to obtain a transformant.

Other general cloning techniques can be found in, for example, Molecular Cloning, 3rd Ed., Methods in Yeast Genetics, A laboratory manual (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.), etc.

4. Method of Producing Alcoholic Beverages of the Invention and Alcoholic Beverages Produced by the Method

The vector of the present invention described above is introduced into a yeast suitable for brewing a target alcoholic beverage. Using this yeast, the fermentation rate of moromi mash containing oligosaccharides such as maltose, maltotriose, etc. can be increased. The target alcoholic beverages include, for example, but not limited to, beer, wine, whisky, sake and the like. In producing these alcoholic beverages, known techniques can be used except that the brewing yeast obtained in the present invention is used in place of its parent strain. Accordingly, raw materials, manufacturing facilities, manufacturing control, etc. may be exactly the same as those in conventional manner and there is no increase in the cost of producing alcoholic beverages whose fermentation period is shortened. Thus, according to the present invention, alcoholic beverages can be produced using existing facilities without increasing costs.

5. Method of Obtaining the Yeast of the Invention

The method of obtaining the yeast bearing the transporter of the present invention having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation comprises the following steps (1) to (4).

[Step (1)]

In Step (1), several test yeasts are first cultured in a maltose medium supplemented with 2-deoxyglucose and using its growth level as an indicator, a yeast bearing a transporter protein less susceptible to inactivation by glucose is selected.

The test yeasts used may be naturally occurring yeasts or those mutated from naturally occurring yeasts. Examples of the test yeast include any yeast which can be used for brewing, such as brewing yeasts for beer, wine, sake, etc. Specifically, yeasts belonging to the genus Saccharomyces can be used. According to the present invention, there can be used beer yeasts, for example, Saccharomyces pastorianus W34/70, etc., Saccharomyces carlsbergensis NCYC453, NCYC456, etc., Saccharomyces cerevisiae NBRC1951, NBRC1952, NBRC1953, NBRC1954, etc. In addition, whisky yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC90, etc., wine yeasts such as wine yeast Nos. 1, 3, 4, etc. from the Brewing Society of Japan, and sake yeasts such as sake yeast Nos. 7, 9, etc. from the Brewing Society of Japan can also be used but there is no limitation thereto. In the present invention, preferably used are brewing yeasts, e.g., Saccharomyces pastorianus. The yeasts used in EXAMPLES described later can also be used preferably as the test yeasts.

According to the present invention, yeasts in which site-directed mutagenesis is introduced can be preferably used as the test yeasts.

Site-directed mutagenesis can be performed by any technique well known to those skilled in the art. To introduce site-directed mutation, the following techniques which are non-limiting examples can be used: (1) Oligonucleotide-directed Dual Amber (ODA) method/Takara Biomedicals; (2) LA PCR in vitro mutagenesis/Takara Biomedicals; and (3) ExSite™ PCR-Based Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit/STRATAGENE. Each technique is briefly explained below.

(1) Oligonucleotide-Directed Dual Amber (ODA) Method/Takara Biomedicals

A target gene is inserted into a plasmid bearing an amber mutation on the kanamycin resistance gene (Km) (e.g., pKF 18k-2/19k-2, etc.). The resulting DNA is converted into a single-stranded DNA by thermal denaturation, followed by simultaneous hybridization with a synthetic oligonucleotide for repairing the amber mutation on Km and with a synthetic oligonucleotide for mutagenesis by which a desired mutation is introduced into the target gene. This DNA is replicated while retaining the introduced mutation to finally select only DNA in which the amber mutation on Km has been completely repaired. Thus, in selected DNA, the desired mutation is introduced into the target gene with high probability.

(2) LA PCR in Vitro Mutagenesis/Takara Biomedicals

A DNA fragment to be mutated is inserted into a multicloning site of any plasmid. PCR (I) is performed using a primer for introducing a desired mutation into a target gene and a primer near the multicloning site. On the other hand, PCR (II) is performed to cover the full length of the inserted DNA fragment by using a primer for eliminating a single site (A) from the multicloning site in the direction opposite to mutagenesis in the targeted gene. The products from PCR (I) and (II) are mixed together and the mixture is subjected to further PCR to amplify the full length of the inserted DNA fragment bearing the introduced mutation. Among the DNA fragments thus obtained, those bearing the desired mutation lose the cloning site (A). Accordingly, when the PCR products are digested with a restriction enzyme (A) and then subcloned using the site (A), theoretically the desired mutation is introduced into all of the products thus recloned.

(3) ExSite™ PCR-Based Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit/STRATAGENE

A DNA fragment to be mutated is inserted into an appropriate plasmid. The resulting DNA is grown in dam+Escherichia coli (which has a DNA methylase activity) and A in the GATC sequence is thus methylated. Using this plasmid as a template, synthetic oligonucleotides for introducing a desired mutation are synthesized in both sense and antisense orientations. These oligonucleotides are used as primers for PCR. After PCR, the resulting DNA fragments are digested with a restriction enzyme DpnI which digests only methylated DNA, to leave only a DNA fragment bearing the desired mutation. This fragment is ligated with T4 DNA ligase into the form of cyclic DNA to collect a plasmid having the desired mutation introduced into a target gene.

In the present invention, for the purposes of identifying residues involved in the glucose-induced degradation resistance of MAL21 transporter or imparting the glucose-induced degradation resistance to MTT1 transporter, the amino acid residue 46 or 50 located at the cytoplasmic region near the N-terminal end of the MAL61 or MTT1 transporter is replaced by glycine or histidine, respectively. In particular, the GAT codon encoding aspartic acid is replaced by the GGT codon encoding glycine, and the CTT codon encoding leucine is replaced by the CAT codon encoding histidine. The mutagenesis treatment can be confirmed by analyzing the nucleotide sequence of the mutated DNA using any technique well known to those skilled in the art.

Any yeast that undergoes the mutation treatment can also be used as the test yeast. Any mutation treatment may be used and includes, for example, physical methods such as ultraviolet irradiation, radiation irradiation, etc., chemical methods including treatments with chemicals such as EMS (ethylmethane sulphonate), N-methyl-N-nitrosoguanidine, etc. (see, e.g., Biochemistry Experiments, edited by Yasuji Oshima, vol. 39, Yeast Molecular Genetic Experiments, pp. 67-75, Japan Scientific Societies Press, etc.).

The test yeasts which are preferably used are test yeasts containing mutant MAL31 or mutant AGT1 protein in which site-directed mutation is introduced into the amino acid sequence of MAL31 or AGT1 protein.

The culture in an oligosaccharide medium (e.g., a maltose medium) can be performed using publicly known methods. Using the yeast growth level in such culture as an indicator, yeasts containing the transporter protein less susceptible to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation are selected.

The introduced transporter gene in transformants (α-glucoside transporter gene-free strain is used as a host) being expressed and functioning can be examined by the ability or inability of growth in, for example, a minimum medium in which 0.5% maltose or maltotriose is used as the only carbon source and 3 mg/L of antimycin is supplemented (6.7 g/L of yeast nitrogen base w/o amino acids, 5 g/L of maltose or maltotriose and 3 mg/L of antimycin). Even a strain where α-glucoside transporter fails to function slightly grows in a minimum medium where maltose or maltotriose is used as the only carbon source. However, when a respiration inhibitor antimycin is added, the strain cannot grow in a minimum medium where maltose or maltotriose is used as the only carbon source. Thus, the function of α-glucoside transporter can be clearly confirmed. For example, one platinum loop of sample strain is taken from a YPD plate (10 g/L or yeast extract, 20 g/L of polypeptone and 20 g/L of glucose) and suspended in 1 ml of sterile water to OD660=0.2. After the cells are collected and resuspended in 1 ml of sterile water, the suspension is further diluted to 10-fold and 100-fold, respectively. Serial dilutions of these cell suspensions are spotted by 3 μl each onto a test medium, followed by culturing at 30° C. for 2 or 3 days. The expression vector is introduced into the strain grown, indicating that the introduced α-glucoside transporter is expressed and functions. Next, the suspension is likewise spotted onto a 0 to 2.0 mM 2-deoxyglucose-containing maltose minimum medium (6.7 g/L of yeast nitrogen base w/o amino acids, 20 g/L of maltose, 0 to 2.0 mM 2-deoxyglucose), or onto a 0 to 8.0 mM 2-deoxyglucose-containing maltose-supplemented synthetic complete medium (SCM) (6.7 g/L of yeast nitrogen base w/o amino acids, 20 g/L of maltose, 20 mg/ml of adenine sulfate, 20 mg/ml of uracil, 20 mg/ml of L-tryptophan, 20 mg/ml of L-histidine hydrochloride, 20 mg/ml of L-arginine hydrochloride, 20 mg/ml of L-methionine, 30 mg/ml of L-tyrosine, 30 mg/ml of L-leucine, 30 mg/ml of L-isoleucine, 30 mg/ml of L-lysine hydrochloride, 50 mg/ml of L-phenylalanine, 100 mg/ml of L-glutamic acid, 100 mg/ml of L-aspartic acid, 150 mg/ml of L-valine, 200 mg/ml of L-threonine and 400 mg/ml of L-serine); then the strain which can grow even in the presence of 2-deoxyglucose is selected. It can be concluded that the strain which grows in the presence of 2-deoxyglucose exhibits the activity through expression of the transporter having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation.

[Step (2)]

Next, the amino acid residue or amino acid sequence which contributes to the less susceptibility to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation is identified by comparing the amino acid sequence of the transporter protein contained in the yeast selected in the step (1) to the amino acid sequence of a transporter protein whose level of glucose-induced inactivation is known.

This step involves isolating a gene encoding the transporter protein from the yeast selected in a conventional manner, sequencing a DNA sequence of the gene using conventional methods and translating from the DNA sequence into its amino acid sequence. The amino acid sequence thus identified is compared to the amino acid sequence of a transporter protein whose level of glucose-induced degradation is known. The transporter protein whose level of glucose-induced degradation is known includes, for example, Mal31p, Mal61p, Mtt1p and Agt1p, which are α-glucoside transporters, and their mutant proteins, etc. (see, e.g., YBR298C (MAL31) and YGR289C (AGT1) from the Saccharomyces Genome Database, as well as X17391 (MAL61) and DQ010171 (MTT1) from the GenBank for each nucleotide sequence). Analysis of amino acid sequences was performed on the characteristic of resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation for its presence or absence, based on the technique as given in EXAMPLES described later. As a result, it has been confirmed that the sequence of amino acids 46 to 51 in SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6 or 8 is associated with the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation in Mal21p, Mal31p, Mal61p and Mtt1p, and the sequence of amino acids 51 to 56 in SEQ ID NO: 10 is associated with the resistance in Agt1. Location of the respective amino acids is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

[Step (3)]

This step involves designing a polynucleotide encoding the transporter having the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation based on the amino acid sequence information obtained in the step (2). As described above, for example, it has been confirmed that the sequence of amino acids 46 to 51 in SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6 or 8 is associated with the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation in Mal21p, Mal31p, Mal61p and Mtt1p, and the sequence of amino acids 51 to 56 in SEQ ID NO: 10 is associated with the resistance in Agt1. Accordingly, when a mutation is introduced, a polynucleotide is designed to encode, e.g., a sequence in which amino acids in this fragment are replaced by other amino acids, based on this sequence information. Furthermore, since the replaceable amino acids can be specified to some extent as described above, a polynucleotide sequence encoding an amino acid sequence in which such replaceable amino acids are substituted with one another can be designed. Examples of the amino acid sequence used as a basis are sequences including naturally occurring Mal21p (SEQ ID NO: 2); mutant Mal31p (SEQ ID NO: 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 or 48), mutant Mal61p (SEQ ID NO: 26 or 28), mutant Mtt1p (SEQ ID NO: 34) and mutant Agt1p (SEQ ID NO: 32, 34), which are obtained in EXAMPLES described later, and the like.

[Step (4)]

This step involves constructing an expression vector bearing the polynucleotide designed in the step (3), introducing the vector into a yeast in a conventional manner and culturing the yeast in an oligosaccharide medium (e.g., a maltose medium). Preferably, the yeast into which the polynucleotide designed in this step (3) has been introduced includes mutant Mal31p protein wherein a site-directed mutation is introduced into the amino acid sequence of Mal31p protein, mutant Ma161p protein wherein a site-directed mutation is introduced into the amino acid sequence of Mal61p protein, mutant Mtt1p protein wherein a site-directed mutation is introduced into the amino acid sequence of Mtt1p protein and mutant Agt1p protein wherein a site-directed mutation is introduced into the amino acid sequence of Agt1p protein. The aptitude of yeast can be evaluated by measuring the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation of the transporter contained in the yeast, oligosaccharide assimilability, growth rate, fermentation rate in wort, etc. of the yeast during its culture. The resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation, oligosaccharide assimilability, growth rate, fermentation rate in wort, etc. can be evaluated by the methods used in EXAMPLES described later.

EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to EXAMPLES but is not deemed to be limited thereto.

[Testing Methods]

Test items and testing methods used in EXAMPLES are shown below. The testing methods in EXAMPLES were performed in accordance with the methods below, unless otherwise indicated.

<Acquisition of the MAL61, MAL31, MAL21 and AGT1 Genes>

The MAL61, MAL31 and AGT1 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are already cloned and their nucleotide sequences are reported. MAL31 (SEQ ID NO: 3), MAL61 (SEQ ID NO: 5) and AGT1 (SEQ ID NO: 9) used in the present invention were obtained from the Saccharomyces Genome Database Accession No. YBR298C, the GenBank Accession No. X17391 and the Saccharomyces Genome Database Accession No. YGR289C, respectively. The MAL61, MAL31 and AGT1 genes were amplified by PCR using as a template the chromosomal DNA bearing each gene, which was prepared from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and then isolated to obtain the MAL61, MAL31 and AGT1 genes.

Also, MAL21 was known to be encoded by chromosome III, but its DNA sequence was unknown. However, as MAL31 encoded by chromosome II and MAL61 encoded by chromosome VIII had the identity of 99% or more, it was expected that MAL21 would also have a considerably high identity.

Actually in this EXAMPLE, all of the MAL21, MAL31 and MAL61 genes could be obtained using chromosomal DNA of the yeast strain bearing each α-glucoside transporter only as a template and using the same primers (5′AGAGCTCAGCATATAAAGAGACA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 11) and 5′TGGATCCGTATCTACCTACTGG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 12)). AGT1 was obtained using the primers (5′TGAGCTCACATAGAAGAACATCAAA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 13) and 5′ATGGATCCATATGAAAAATATCATT 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 14)). Specifically, MAL31 and AGT1 were obtained by PCR from Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288C (ATCC204508 (Rose, M. D., Winston, F. and Hieter, P. (1990): Methods in Yeast Genetics: A Laboratory Course Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)), MAL61 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC96955, and MAL21 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC20598.

The DNA fragment thus obtained was inserted into vector pCR (registered trademark) 2.1-TOPO using TOPO TA cloning kit of Invitrogen Inc. and then subjected to DNA sequencing to verify the inserted gene sequence. It was confirmed that the sequences of MAL31, MAL61 and AGT1 are the same as the sequences registered in the data bank (Accession Nos. YBR298C, X17391 and YGR289C, respectively). With respect to MAL21, 10 clones or more were sequenced independently to verify the sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1).

The primers used contain a XbaI or SacI site upstream of the initiation codon and a BamHI site downstream of the termination codon and are designed to integrate into the expression vector. Amplification of the target gene by PCR using chromosomal DNA and subsequent isolation can be performed by methods well known to those skilled in the art, including preparation of PCR primers.

<Obtaining MTT1 Gene>

The genomic DNA of bottom-fermenting beer yeast Weihenstephan 34/70 was prepared and the DNA library was constructed using plasmid YCp49H (FIG. 19) as a vector. This library was transformed into Saccharomyces cerevisiae HH150 (CB11Δagt1::G418R) and the transformant was spread onto a minimum medium supplemented with 300 mg/ml of hygromycin and 0.5% maltotriose. As the CB11 strain is an ade1 strain, the adenine precursor 5-aminoimidazole riboside is accumulated and further polymerized to turn the colonies red. When AGT1-disrupted HH150 (CB11Δagt1::G418R) was spread onto a medium containing maltotriose as the only one carbon source, its growth became extremely slow and the colonies were white. When antimycin is added to the medium, it is possible to stop the growth completely in a medium containing maltotriose as the only one carbon source. Since antimycin is highly toxic, it was attempted to acquire a maltotriose transporter, without using antimycin, by selecting the red colonies. After culturing at 30° C. for 3 days, the red colonies grown were streaked onto the same medium, thus confirming that the colonies grew in the medium. A plasmid was prepared from 21 red colonies well grown. The plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli DH5α. The plasmid was mass-produced in Escherichia coli. The plasmid was transformed again into HH150 and spread onto the same medium. The plasmid was extracted from 18 red colonies well grown.

DNA sequencing of the inserted fragment was carried out to find the same sequence suspected of being a transporter having a 90% identity with MAL61 in 17 colonies. This gene had exactly the same sequence as MTT1 (GenBank Accession No. DQ010171) reported in J. Dietvorst, et al., Yeast, 2005, 22:775-788. Therefore, the gene is called MTT1 (its nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence are shown by SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8, respectively). Using primers (5′TCTAGAATTACATCCAAGACTATTAATTAACTATG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 15) and 5′TGGATCCGTATCTACCTACTGG 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 16)), the MTT1 gene into which a XbaI site was introduced upstream of the initiation codon and a BamHI site was introduced downstream of the termination codon by PCR was incorporated into the expression vector.

<Expression Plasmid/Plasmid for Library Construction>

In the present invention, the four expression vectors (1) to (4) were used and (5) was used as a plasmid for library construction.

-   (1) pJHXSB (FIG. 15) -   (2) pJHIXSB (FIG. 16) -   (3) pYCGPY (FIG. 17) -   (4) pUP3GLP (FIG. 18) -   (5) YCp49H (FIG. 19)

<Yeast Strains>

In the present invention, the strains (1) to (6) were used for the acquisition of transporter genes and comparison among the strains, the strains (7) to (10) were used to confirm the growth rate and fermentation rate in strains bearing transporters highly expressed, and the strain (11) to acquire mutant genes.

-   (1) S. cerevisiae S288C (ATCC204508) (MATalpha SUC2 mal mel gal2     CUP1) -   (2) S. cerevisiae ATCC96955 (MATa MAL61 MAL62 MAL63 mal64 mal11     MAL12 mal13 ura3-52 leu2-3 leu2-112 trp1 his) -   (3) S. cerevisiae ATCC20598 (MATa suc MAL2 MEL1 his4 leu2) -   (4) S. cerevisiae CB11 (Berkley Stock Center) (MATa ade1 MAL61 MAL62     MAL63 AGT1 MAL12 MAL31 MAL32) -   (5) bottom-fermenting beer yeast Weihenstephan 34/70 -   (6) S. cerevisiae HH150=(CB11 Δagt1::G418R) (MATa ade1 MAL61 MAL62     MAL63 Δagt1::G418R MAL12 MAL31 MAL32) -   (7) S. cerevisiae HH1001 (MATa SUC2 mal mel gal2 CUP1     TPI1::TPI1pr-MAL32-G418R ura3) -   (8) S. cerevisiae Δ152MS (MATa ma161::TRP1 MAL62 MAL63 mal64 mal11     MAL12 mal13 leu2-3 leu2-112 his URA3::TDH3p::MAL62) -   (9) top-fermenting beer yeast AH135 -   (10) bottom-fermenting beer yeast Weihenstephan 194 -   (11) S. cerevisiae HH1002 (MATa SUC2 mal mel gal2 CUP1     TPI1::TPI1pr-MAL32-G418R ura3 dog1 dog2)

<Introduction of Site-Directed Mutagenesis>

In EXAMPLES, after the transporter gene obtained was inserted into expression vector pJHIXSB, a mutation was introduced by using ExSite™ PCR-Based Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit/STRATAGENE with the primers (TABLE 1). For details on the technique for introducing the mutation, the procedures were performed following the manual from STRATAGENE.

TABLE 1  Sequences of primers used for site-directed mutagenesis SEQ Mutant Gene Primer Sequence ID NO: MAL61[D46G] 5′-GTCTTTCCCATCTTGAGTACGGTCC-3′ 17 5′-CAAAATCACTTTTCTTACCTTGCTCCT-3′ 18 MAL61[L50H] 5′-ATGAGTACGGTCCAGGTTCACTAA-3′ 19 5′-GATGGGAAAGATCAAAATCACTTTTC-3′ 20 MAL61[D46G, 5′-GTCTTTCCCATCATGAGTACGGTCCA-3′ 21 L50H] 5′-GAAAATCACTTTTCTTACCTTGCTCCT-3′ 22 MTT1[D46G] 5′-GTCTTTCCCATCATGAGTACGGTCC-3′ 23 5′-CAAAATCACTTTTCTTACCTTGCTCCT-3′ 24 <Evaluation of transporter protein art 2-deoxyglucose resistance>

2-Deoxyglucose (2-DOG) is a sugar analog that is metabolized to 2-DOG-6-phosphate but not an fluffier and this cannot be a carbon source. However, it is known that 2-DOG induces glucose repression or glucose-induced inactivation to the same level as that of glucose. It is thus highly probable that a strain grown on this plate would have an α-glucoside transporter less susceptible to glucose-induced inactivation. To determine the resistance to 2-DOG, the following 2 media were used: [1] 0 to 2.0 mM 2-deoxyglucose-containing maltose synthetic complete medium (SCM) (6.7 g/L of yeast nitrogen base w/o amino acids, 20 g/L of maltose, 20 mg/ml of adenine sulfate, 20 mg/ml of uracil, 20 mg/ml of L-tryptophan, 20 mg/ml of L-histidine hydrochloride, 20 mg/ml of L-arginine hydrochloride, 20 mg/ml of L-methionine, 30 mg/ml of L-tyrosine, 30 mg/ml of L-leucine, 30 mg/ml of L-isoleucine, 30 mg/ml L-lysine hydrochloride, 50 mg/ml of L-phenylalanine, 100 mg/ml of L-glutamic acid, 100 mg/ml L-aspartic acid, 150 mg/ml of L-valine, 200 mg/ml of L-threonine and 400 mg/ml of L-serine), or [2] 0 to 2.0 mM 2-deoxyglucose-containing maltose minimum medium (6.7 g/L of yeast nitrogen base w/o amino acids and 20 g/L of maltose). The resistance was determined by spotting the serial dilution of cell suspension of each transporter-expressed strain by 3 μl each onto any plate and culturing at 30° C. for 2 to 3 days.

<Measurement of Level of Transporter Protein Accumulated in Cells>

The level of transporter protein accumulated, in cells can be assayed by, e.g., Western blotting. For example, a test strain is harvested from 10 ml of culture broth in the logarithmic growth phase and disrupted in a lysis buffer (8 M urea, 5% (w/v) SDS, 40 mM Tris-HCl (pH6.8), 0.1 mM EDTA, 1% (3-mercaptoethanol) by stirring with glass beads to give the cell extract. A sample of 60 μg total protein was developed by SDS-gel electrophoresis and transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane followed by Western blotting using rabbit polyclonal anti-Mal61p antibody.

The rabbit polyclonal anti-Mal61p antibody was obtained as follows. The procedures involves inserting a DNA encoding the N-terminal region (Met1-Leu181) of Mal61p at the downstream of GST tag in the pET Expression vector (Novagen), transforming the resulting plasmid into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), applying a cell lysate of the transformant to a GST bind resin column and eluting the protein bound to the column. Full details are given in manual attached to Novagen's pET Expression System, GST-Bind™ Affinity Resins (Novagen). The fused protein thus prepared was applied to SDS-PAGE to confirm the purity. Then, rabbit was immunized using the fused protein as an immunogen to obtain the polyclonal antibody. Effectiveness of the antibody was confirmed by culturing the α-glucoside transporter gene (MAL61, MAL31 or MAL21)-expressed yeast strain and its host strain free of the gene in a YPM medium (10 g/L of yeast extract, 20 g/L of polypeptone and 5.0 g/L of maltose) and performing Western blotting for the cell lysate using this antibody by the method described above. Positive bands consistent with the molecular weights of α-glucoside transporters (MAL61, MAL31 and MAL21) of 68 kDa were detected only in the lysate of the yeast strain in which the α-glucoside transporter gene was expressed.

The level of Agt1p accumulated in the cells was determined by constructing a gene encoding the fused protein bearing two tandem hematoagglutinin (HA) tags at the C-terminal end of Agt1p, obtaining a strain expressing the gene and using the strain according to the methods described above. Mouse monoclonal anti-hematoagglutinin antibody (Covance, Research, Products, Inc.) was used as the antibody.

<Measurement of Degradation Rate of Transporter Protein>

The strain expressing each transporter protein was inoculated into YPD followed by shaking culture at 30° C. overnight. The culture was inoculated into a YPM medium to OD660=1.0, shaking the culture at 30° C. for 2.5 hours and then collected. The 60 OD660 units of cells were measured and suspended in 30 ml of a medium for degradation rate measurement (1.7 g/L of yeast nitrogen base w/o amino acids and ammonia, 20 g/L of glucose and 25 mg/L of cycloheximide) preincubated at 30° C., followed by incubation at 30° C. The cell suspension was sampled by 5 ml at an appropriate time (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 minutes or 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes) immediately followed by centrifugation. The supernatant was discarded and the cells were frozen using an ethanol-dry ice. The transporter protein was detected from the frozen cells by the method described above and the intensity of the protein and was measured to determine the half life from its diminution rate.

<Mutant Mal61p/Mutant Agt1p/Mutant Mtt1p/Mutant Mal31p>

The mutant Mal61p/mutant Agt1p/mutant Mtt1p/mutant Mal31p in this invention refer to the 13 transporter proteins shown in TABLES 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively.

TABLE 2  Sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 of mutant and native α-glucoside transporter (Mal61p) Half Amino acid sequence life Transporter 39          52 SEQ ID NO: (min.) Mal61p QGKKSDFDLSHLEY Residues 25 39-52 of SEQ ID NOS 4 and 6 Mal21p QGKKSDFGLSHHEY 52 118 Mal61p[Gly46] QGKKSDFGLSHLEY 53 45 Mal61p[His50] QGKKSDFDLSHHEY Residues 37 39-52 of SEQ ID NOS 8 Mal61p[Gly46, QGKKSDFGLSHHEY 54 134 His50]

TABLE 3  Sequence of amino acids 44 to 57 of mutant and  native α-glucoside transporter (Agt1p) Amino acid Half sequence SEQ life Transporter 44          57 ID NO: (min.) Agt1p GKKDSAFELDHLEF Residues  14 44-57 of (Agt1-HAp) SEQ ID NO: 10 Agt1p[Lys56] GKKDSAFELDHLKF 55 — Agt1p[Gly56] GKKDSAFELDHLGF 56 188 (Agt1-HAp [Gly56])

TABLE 4  Sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 of mutant and  native α-glucoside transporter (Mtt1p) Amino acid sequence Transporter 39          52 SEQ ID NO: Mtt1p QGKKSDFDLSHHEY Residues 39-52 of SEQ ID NO: 8 Mtt1p[Gly46] QGKKSDFGLSHHEY 57

TABLE 5  Sequence of amino acids 39 to 52 of mutant and native α-glucoside transporter (Mal31p) Half Amino acid sequence life Transporter 39          52 SEQ ID NO: (min.) Mal31p QGKKSDFDLSHLEY Residues 21 39-52 of SEQ ID NOS 4 and 6 Mal21p QGKKSDFGLSHHEY 58 118 Mal31p[Val51] QGKKSDFDLSHLVY 59 134 Mal31p[Pro48] QGKKSDFDLPHLEY 60 >360 Mal31p[Pro49] QGKKSDFDLSPLEY 61 >360 Mal31p[Pro50] QGKKSDFDLSHPEY 62 >360 Mal31p[Lys51] QGKKSDFDLSHLKY 63 187 Mal31p[Phe50, QGKKSDFDLSHFKY 64 >360 Lys51] Mal31p[Arg49] QGKKSDFDLSRLEY 65 —

In the tables, only the regions containing amino acid residues different from the respective native transporters are shown. The amino acid residues replaced by the mutation treatment with UV or the mutation by site-directed mutagenesis are represented in bold letters. The mutant transporter protein of the invention has the characteristic of high stability in a yeast even in the presence of glucose. In the tables the sequences of native transporters are also shown. Among the native transporters, only Mal21p has the characteristic of high stability in a yeast even in the presence of glucose. The acids of Mal21p which are different from those of Mal31p or Mal61p are shown in bold.

Throughout the specification, the protein of the mutant transporter is represented as follows. For example, Mal61p[Gly46, His50] (SEQ ID NO: 30) represents mutant Mal61p in which the 46th aspartic acid is replaced by glycine and the 50th leucine is replaced by histidine. The gene for this mutant transporter is represented by MAL61[D46G, L50H] (SEQ ID NO: 29).

<Evaluation of Maltose Assimilability>

Assimilation of maltose in it yeast constitutively expressing the mutant transporter can be evaluated by aerobically culturing or fermenting the yeast under conditions suitable for the yeast and measuring the amount of maltose in a medium. Sugars can be measured by methods well know to those skilled in the art, for example, liquid chromatography using an IR detector. In the yeast in the present invention described later, the ability of maltose uptake was improved.

Example 1 Screening of α-Glucoside Transporter Having the Resistance to Glucose-Induced Inactivation/Degradation

To 2% maltose-containing synthetic complete medium (SCM), 0 mM to 2 mM 2-deoxyglucose (2-DOG) was added to make a plate. 2-DOG is a sugar analog that is metabolized to 2-DOG-6-phosphate but not any further and thus cannot be a carbon source. However, it is known that 2-DOG induces glucose repression or glucose-induced inactivation to the same level as glucose. It is thus highly probable that a strain grown on this plate would have an α-glucoside transporter less susceptible to glucose-induced inactivation. With regard to a number of yeast strains, the cell suspension was spotted and incubated at 30° C. As a result, MAL21-bearing yeast strain ATCC 20598 grew even on a plate containing 1 mM 2-DOG unlike other strains, indicating that MAL21 in the strain was predictably a transporter less susceptible to glucose-induced degradation (FIG. 1). Thus, the primers (TABLE 1, supra) were designed based on the nucleotide sequence information about 5′ upstream and 3′ downstream of MAL61 encoding gene. MAL21 gene was amplified by PCR using the ATCC 20598 genomic DNA as a template and cloned into Invitrogen's pCR2.1-TOPO followed by DNA sequencing. The nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) and the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.

This MAL21 gene was incorporated into the SacI-BamHI site of plasmid pJHIXSB (FIG. 16). After digesting with EcoRV in the URA3 gene, this plasmid pJHIMAL21 was incorporated into yeast HH1001 as an expression unit constitutively transcribed by TPI1 promoter, which was designated as HH206 strain. HH1001 is a ura3-sibling of the mal-strain X2180-1A and constitutively expresses maltase since TPI1p::MAL32 (which encodes maltase gene) is incorporated therein. Growth of the HH206 strain was examined by applying the strain onto a maltose minimum medium plate containing 0 mM to 2 mM 2-DOG. The HH108, HH227 and HH228 strains bearing the MAL61, MAL31 and AGT1 genes could not grow on the plate containing 1.0 mM of 2-DOG whereas the HH206 strain grew on the plate containing 2.0 mM of 2-DOG.

In addition, the glucose-induced degradation rate of Mal21p was assayed by Western blotting using anti-Mal61p antibody. It was found that the half life was approximately 2 hours, whereas the half life of Mal31p and Mal61p was about 20 minutes. It was confirmed that Mal21p has a much longer half life than the other transporters (FIG. 4).

Example 2 Screening for Mutant Mal31p and Mutant Agt1p Having the Resistance To Glucose-Induced Inactivation/Degradation

The MAL31 and AGT1 genes were obtained by PCR from S. cerevisiae S288C strain in a manner similar to EXAMPLE 1. These genes were inserted at the downstream of TPI1 promoter in pJHXSB (FIG. 15) to construct plasmids pJHMAL31 and pJHAGT1, followed by transformation into HH1002. HH1002 is a strain with disruption of DOG1 and DOG2 which encode 2-deoxyglucose phosphate phosphatase from HH1001. When 2-deoxyglucose phosphate phosphatase is highly expressed, the toxicity of 2-DOG for yeasts is lost. Accordingly, a strain with such a mutation in which these two genes are highly expressed is considered to grow on SCM medium containing 2-DOG. Consequently, HH1002 strain deleted of DOG1 and DOG2 was used to obtain a mutant transporter gene. HH1002 (pJHMAL31) and HH1002 (pJHAGT1) were spread onto a SCM plate supplemented with 8.0 mM of 2-DOG in 10⁹ cells/plate.

This plate was exposed to UV rays to the lethality rate of 80%. After incubation at 30° C. for 8 days, 180 colonies grew in HH1002 (pJHMAL31) and in HH1002 (pJHAGT1) 92 colonies grew. They were again streaked onto SCM plate supplemented with 2.0 mM of 2-DOG, and 169 colonies grew in HH1002 (pJHMAL31) and in HH1002 (pJHAGT1) 6 colonies grew.

After the plasmid was extracted from several strains of these colonies and transformed into E. coli DH5a, the plasmid was prepared from the transformant and again transformed into HH1002 strain. By confirming growth of the transformant on a SCM plate supplemented with 2.0 mM of 2-DOG, it was verified that the mutant transporter has imparted a character of 2-DOG resistance.

Sequencing of 42 MAL31 mutant genes and 20 AGT1 mutant genes gave 7 different MAL31 mutant genes and 2 different AGT1 mutant genes. Translation of the MAL31 mutant gene sequences into amino acid sequences revealed that a mutation has occurred in all of the MAL31 mutant genes within the region encoding four amino acid residues-SHLE consisting of the 48th serine to the 51st glutamic acid (TABLE 5). Among these mutants, the glucose-induced degradation rate of six Mal31p mutants, i.e., Mal31p[Val51] (SEQ ID NO: 38), Mal31p[Pro48] (SEQ ID NO: 40), Mal31p[Pro49] (SEQ ID NO: 42), Mal31p[Pro50] (SEQ ID NO: 44), Mal31p[Lys51] (SEQ ID NO: 46) and Mal31p[Phe50,Lys51] (SEQ ID NO: 48), was determined by Western blotting. As shown in FIG. 5, it was found that all of the mutant transporters have much longer half lives than the wild-type.

Furthermore, translation of the AGT1 mutant gene sequences into amino acid sequences revealed that a mutation has occurred at the codon encoding the 56th glutamic acid in two AGT1 mutant genes (TABLE 4). With Agt1-HAp[Gly56] wherein HA-tag (SEQ ID NO: 52) was fused at the C-terminal end of a mutant Agt1p, Agt1p[Gly56] (SEQ ID NO: 34),and Agt1-HAp wherein HA-tag was likewise fused to wild-type Agt1p, the glucose-induced degradation rate was determined by Western blotting. As shown in FIG. 8, it was found that Agt1-HAp[Gly56] has much longer half lives than Agt1-HAp.

In view of the alignment of the amino acid sequences of Mal31p and Agt1p, the 56th glutamic acid in Agt1p corresponds to the 51st glutamic acid of Mal31p. It has thus been found that the resistance to glucose-induced degradation can be imparted to both transporters by introducing the amino acid substitution into the corresponding four amino acid residues (SHLE in Mal31p and DHLE in Agt1p).

Furthermore, in view that in the mutant strains, substitution to proline, lysine, valine, phenylalanine, arginine, glycine, etc. occurs and amino acids having large side or main chains, amino acid residues such as proline, glycine, etc. which tend to disrupt alpha helices are contained, it is inferred that the 2-deoxyglucose resistance, i.e., the character less susceptible to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation has been acquired by changing the secondary structure near this region.

Example 3 Identification of Amino Acid Residues in Mal21P Involved in the Resistance to Glucose-Induced Inactivation/Degradation

Comparing the amino acid sequences between Mal21p and Mal61p or Mal21p and Mal31p, the amino acid residues which are commonly different therebetween are six of Gly46, His50, Leu167, Leu174, Val175 and Thr328. Based on the information obtained in EXAMPLE 2, the gene MAL61[D46G, L50H] (SEQ ID NO: 29) encoding the transporter in which Asp46 in Mal61p was replaced by Gly46 and Leu50 in Mal61p was replaced by His50 among these different amino acid residues was prepared and introduced into plasmid pJHIXSB.

After plasmid pJHIMAL61[D46G L50H] was digested with EcoRV in the URA3 gene, the digestion product was incorporated into yeast HH1001 as an expression unit constitutively transcribed by TPI1 promoter to produce HH207 strain. Growth of the HH207 strain on a SCM plate supplemented with 2-DOG was examined; the HH207 strain grew in a maltose minimum medium supplemented with 2 mM of 2-DOG as the HH206 strain bearing Ma121p did, expecting that the strain would have the same glucose resistance as in Ma121p.

Next, genes MAL61[D46G] (SEQ ID NO: 25) and MAL61[L50H] (SEQ ID NO: 27) encoding the transporters having the substitution of each one residue of these two residues were produced and their expression strains HH210 and HH209 were produced as described above. Growth of these strains were examined in a maltose minimum medium supplemented with 2-DOG. These strains had a higher resistance to 2-DOG than the HH108 strain bearing Ma161p but a lower resistance than the HH206 strain. Thus, it was found that in order to impart a resistance equal to that of Mal21p to Mal61p, both substitutions from Asp46 to Gly46 and from Leu50 to His50 are required (FIG. 9).

The glucose-induced degradation rate of these three mutant transporters, i.e., Mal61p[Gly46, His50] (SEQ ID NO: 30), Mal61p[Gly46] (SEQ ID NO: 26) and Mal61p[His50] (SEQ ID NO: 28) was determined by Western blotting. As is inferred from the 2-DOG resistance, only Mal61p[Gly46, His50] showed almost the same half life as that of Mal21p (FIG. 9).

In other words, the 46th aspartic acid in Mal31p is also a residue suitable for the amino acid substitution for imparting the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation, in addition to the four amino acids from the 48th serine to the 51st glutamic acid in Mal31p, as demonstrated in EXAMPLE 2. In EXAMPLE 3, the 46th aspartic acid was substituted with glycine. Note that glycine is the amino acid having a tendency to disrupt alpha helices.

Furthermore, the 50th leucine is substituted with histidine and histidine is also the amino acid having a tendency to disrupt alpha helices. According to the secondary structure prediction by Chou-Fasman, it is predicted that the 44-54 amino acid region of Mal61p will be an alpha helix, and even though any of the substitutions from Asp46 to Gly46 and from Leu50 to Hsp50 is made, the predicted structure of this region changes from the alpha helix to a random coil.

Considering these results in EXAMPLES 2 and 3, the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation can be imparted to the α-glucoside transporter by introducing the amino acid substitution to change the secondary structure in the region comprising the sequence of amino acids 46 to 51 (DLSHLE or DLSHHE) in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. 6 or 8, or into the sequence of amino acids 51 to 56 (ELDHLE) in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10.

Example 4 Production of Alpha-Glucoside Transporter MTT1 Having the Resistance to Glucose-Induced Inactivation/Degradation

Bottom-fermenting beer yeast has MIT1, which is a kind of alpha-glucoside transporter gene not found in laboratory strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and has an identity of about 90% with MAL61 as the α-glucoside transporter gene on an amino acid level (the DNA sequence and amino acid sequence are shown by SEQ ID NO: 7 and SEQ ID NO: 8, respectively). Alignments of the amino acid sequences of Mal12p/Mal31p/Mal61p/Mtt1p/Agt1p are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Analysis of this transporter Mtt1p revealed that Mtt1p has excellent properties such as a high activity even at low temperatures, a faster uptake rate of maltotriose than Agt1p, etc. but has a lower resistance to 2-DOG, unlike Mal21p.

Thus, the focus was drawn onto the sequence of amino acids 46 to 51 based on EXAMPLES 2 and 3. The sequence of amino acids 46 to 51 in Mtt1p are DLSHHE and when compared to Mal21p, only the 46th residue is different from Mal21p, which was aspartic acid (D in the one-letter amino acid designation) as in Mal61p.

Accordingly, mutant MTT1[D46G] gene (SEQ ID NO: 35) in which this residue was substituted with glycine was produced and introduced into plasmid pJHIXSB. After digesting plasmid pJHIMTT1[D46G] with EcoRV in the URA3 gene, the digested product was incorporated into yeast HH1001 as an expression unit constitutively transcribed by TPI1 promoter to produce HH212 strain.

The pJHIMTT1-incorporated HH211 strain could hardly grow in a maltose minimum medium supplemented with 0.5 mM of 2-DOG, whereas the HH212 strain grew, even though slightly, in a maltose minimum medium supplemented with 1 mM of 2-DOG, indicating that a more potent glucose resistance than native Mtt1p could be imparted (FIG. 11).

Example 5 Growth of MAL61-Highly Expressed Strain and MAL21-Highly Expressed Strain in Maltose Medium

MAL61 and MAL21 were incorporated into plasmid pYCGPY at the SacI-BamHI site downstream of the PYK1 promoter. The respective plasmids were named pYCGPYMAL61 and pYCGPYMAL21. The plasmid pYCGPY is a YCp type plasmid bearing CEN-ARS and has a G418-resistant gene, Ap-resistant gene, etc. (FIG. 17). pYCGPYMAL61 and pYCGPYMAL21 were transformed into Δ152MS strain. The Δ152 strain is a strain into which MAL61 in ATCC 96955 is disrupted by TRP1 marker and MAL62 (maltase gene) under control of TDH3 promoter is introduced. Δ152MS (pYCGPYMAL61) and Δ152MS(pYCGPYMAL21) were inoculated into YPM (10 g/L of yeast extract, 20 g/L or polypeptone and 5.0 g/L of maltose) to OD660=about 0.5, followed by shaking the culture at 30° C. The OD660 was monitored every 1.5 hour (FIG. 12). Δ152MS(pYCGPYMAL21) grew more rapidly in maltose than Δ152MS(pYCGPYMAL61), and the effect of the transporter having the resistance to glucose-induced degradation was confirmed in the laboratory strain.

Example 6 Test on Happoshu (Low-Malt Beer) Wort Fermentation by Bottom-Fermenting Beer Yeast Where MAL21 Was Highly Expressed

The transporter MAL21 having the resistance to glucose-induced degradation was incorporated into plasmid pUP3GLP at the XbaI (or SacI)-BamHI site. pUP3GLP is shown in FIG. 18. pUP3GLP is a YIp-type plasmid, in which the transporter gene is expressed from glyceraldehyde triphosphate dehydrogenase promoter (TDH3p). After each plasmid was digested at the EcoRV site in URA3, the digested product was transformed into bottom-fermenting beer yeast (Weihenstephan 194) and the transformant was spread onto a YGP plate (10 g/L of yeast extract, 20 g/L of polypeptone and 20 g/L of galactose) supplemented with 0.3 μg/ml of cycloheximide. It was confirmed by PCR that the objective expression cassette was inserted into the URA3 gene on the chromosome of Weihenstephan 194.

Weihenstephan 194 (URA3::TDH3p::MAL21) and parent strain Weihenstephan 194 were inoculated into two kinds of happoshu wort. The happoshu wort is a wort with less than 25% malt content in the raw materials except for water, in which glycosylated starch, hops, etc. are used. One of the worts for happoshu has an initial extract concentration of 14.0% and contains sugars in proportions of 1.2% of glucose, 6.6% of maltose and 2.2% of maltotriose. Another glucose-rich happoshu wort has an initial extract concentration of 15.6% and contains sugars in proportions of 4.7% of glucose, 5.4% of maltose and 1.7% of maltotriose. Each wort was prepared by adding glycosylated starch having different sugar proportions to the same volume of wort (final concentration, less than 25% malt content). Wet cells were pitched into each happoshu wort adjusting to 7.5 g/L, which was allowed to ferment at 15° C. The maltose content in the moromi mash during the fermentation was measured. The results are shown in FIG. 13.

In any happoshu wort, the assimilation rate of maltose in the MAL21-highly expressed strains was markedly faster than in the parent strain Weihenstephan 194. Especially in the case of glucose-rich happoshu wort, its effect was remarkable. The high initial extract concentration means that the glucose content is high and in this case, the effect of the transporter having the resistance to glucose-induced degradation was fully observed.

Example 7 Wort Fermentation Test by Top-Fermenting Beer Yeast in Which MAL21 or AGT1[E56G] was Highly Expressed

Glucose-induced degradation-resistant transporter MAL21 or AGT1[E56G] was introduced into plasmid pUP3GLP at the XbaI (or SacI)-BamHI site. pUP3GLP is shown in FIG. 18. pUP3GLP is a YIp-type plasmid and the transporter gene is expressed by glyceraldehyde triphosphate dehydrogenase promoter (TDH3p). After each plasmid was digested at the EcoRV site in URA3, the digested product was transformed into top-fermenting yeast AH135 and the transformant was spread onto a YPG plate (10 g/L of yeast extract, 20 g/L of polypeptone and 20 g/L of galactose) supplemented with 0.3 μg/ml of cycloheximide. It was confirmed by PCR that the objective expression cassette was inserted into URA3 gene on the chromosome of AH135. AH135 (URA3::TDH3p::MAL21) and AH135 (URA3::TDH3p:: AGT1[E56G]) were pitched into a 100% malt wort containing an initial extract concentration of 13% or 20% with adjusted to 5 g/L of wet cells. Fermentation was performed at 15° C. and the maltose concentration in the mash during fermentation was measured. The results are shown in FIG. 14.

The maltose assimilation rate was faster than the parent strain AH135 even using either strain. Especially in the case of the initial extract concentration of 20%, its effect was remarkable. The initial extract concentration being high indicates that the glucose concentration is high, meaning that the transporter having the resistance to glucose-induced degradation was effective. It was confirmed that the high expression of the transporter having the resistance to glucose-induced degradation was effective not only for the bottom-fermenting beer yeast but also for top-fermenting beer yeast.

(Summary)

As described above, it has been found that Mal21p naturally occurring in some yeast is less susceptible to glucose-induced degradation, unlike other α-glucoside transporters. Also, the amino acid region which greatly affects the degradation rate of α-glucoside transporters normally rapidly degraded by glucose has been identified and by replacing the amino acid residues in the region, the resistance to glucose-induced degradation transporter could be imparted to transporters. It has also been confirmed that assimilation of sugars such as maltose in mash, etc. taken up by the transporter can be accelerated by using yeasts (irrespective of laboratory strains or brewing yeasts) capable of expressing the mutant transporter. Especially when the concentration of monosaccharides such as glucose is higher, the effects are more prominent.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The yeast bearing the transporter in accordance with the present invention which has the resistance to glucose-induced inactivation/degradation provides improved oligosaccharide assimilability and is excellent in its ability to assimilate oligosaccharide such as maltose. Such yeast can be effectively used in brewing beer or wine. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated, non-naturally occurring polynucleotide comprising any one of the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25, 27, 29, 35, 37 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or 49, or a nucleotide sequence that is at least 90% identical to any one of the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25, 27, 29, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or 49, wherein the polynucleotide encodes a protein having resistance to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation.
 2. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25, 27, or
 29. 3. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 35. 4. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, wherein the polynucleotide comprises the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or
 49. 5. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, which is at least 95% identical to any one of the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25, 27, or 29, and encodes a protein having resistance to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation.
 6. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, which is at least 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 35,and encodes to protein having resistance to glucose induced inactivation or degradation.
 7. The isolated polynucleotide of claim 1, which it least 95% identical to any one of the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, or 49, and encodes a protein having resistance to glucose-induced inactivation or degradation.
 8. The polynucleotide according to claim 1, which is DNA.
 9. A protein encoded by the polynucleotide according to claim
 1. 10. A vector comprising the polynucleotide according to claim
 1. 11. A transformed yeast introduced with the vector according to claim
 10. 12. The yeast according to claim 11, wherein oligosaccharide assimilability is improved by increasing the expression level of the isolated polynucleotide.
 13. An isolated polynucleotide that encodes a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26, 28, or
 30. 14. An isolated polynucleotide that encodes a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 36. 15. An isolated polynucleotide that encodes a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, or
 50. 